Arena Wars Fight Series and match maker Keith Weir are returning to Clackamas and the Camp Withycombe Armory on September 19th with a card featuring seven pro boxing matches and one Muay Thai bout.
A super welterweight bout will see a clash of unbeatens as Shamar Woolery (5 0) faces Pedro Torres (5 0) in a five round affair. Woolery will return to the ring after fighting in August while Torres is coming off a knockout win in April. While Woolery enters the ring with the ability to boast about winning his fights by knocking out his opponents, Torres can make the case that he has faced tougher opponents. Both men fought as amateurs, and that experience has served them well in the professional ranks. This shapes up as a puncher versus a boxer on paper, but it could also resort to being a fight that sees both men throwing hard shots to end the fight before it hits round five.
A five round lightweight fight will pit Apolinar Lopez (2 1) against Reith Duir (1 2). Lopez has won in his last two outings, though he was in tough in each of them, scoring a majority decision against Blaiwas Eaglepipe and a unanimous decision when he faced Maurico Huerta. Duir is coming off a unanimous decision win in his last outing, a four round bout in which he dominated in three. Duir has also faced tough competition, but looks to be on track after dropping his first two fights as a professional. Lopez last fought in November of ’25 while Duir lst fought in August of this year. That could give an edge to Duir, though Lopez’ athleticism will likely serve him well.
Unbeaten Jorge Garcia-Ponce (6 0 1) will step in to face Jovan Alayon (2 1 1) in a five round super welterweight bout. Garcia-Ponce made short work of his first four opponents before stepping up to fight a couple of tough fighters in Luis Iniguez, where he scored a unanimous decision win, and Brandon Watley, who he fought to a split draw before gaining a majority decision in the rematch. Alayon will have to be aware of Garcia-Ponce's power right and his quick movement in the ring. And on the other side, Alayon does carry some power, and he showed that with a first round knockout in his second fight as a professional. Alayon has also fought as a bare kncukle figter, and that can test one's toughness.
Super bantamweight fighters are generally quick and like to throw a lot of punches. Gilberto Tapia Soto (0 1) will step in against Alexander Munoz (debut) in a fight scheduled for four rounds. Sotos lost a unanimous decision in May in a fight in which had the outcome of one round been different, the fight would have ended in a draw. Though this is his pro debut, Munoz brings his experience as an amateur to the ring.
Oscar Arriga (0 4 1) last fought in October of ’25 in a fight that resulted in a split draw. And though that may not have been the result Arriga wanted, it was a fight that showed he had improved when looked at in light of his previous four fights. He will face David Baltazar Calderon (debut) in a four round welterweight bout. Arriga has faced tough opposition, and in the battle of pro fighters that can be an advantage. However, Calderon brings a pretty solid amateur career to the fight, having fought in the Golden Gloves tournament.
Emmanuel Ojeda (3 2) is looking to get back in the win column after losing in his last two outings to unbeaten fighters. That alone says something about Ojeda in that he went the distance in both fights and did not let up in either of them. Prior to the losses, Ojeda had dropped only two rounds in three fights. Ojeda will face Gary Anderson Jr (debut) in a four round super featherweight fight. Though Anderson brings some amateur experience to the ring, he will have to rely on that to counter Ojeda’s nonstop pressure.
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Roy Jones Jr. Promotions returns to Legends Casino on October 3rd with a six bout card packed with some of the Northwest’s best fighters.
The rematch that has been over two years in the making will happen when Andrew Murphy (13 0) faces Devontae McDonald (8-6) in an eight round super middleweight bout. When these two fought early in 2024, Murphy took the win and wore the belt. Since then, McDonald has been asking for the rematch, and matchmaker Chauncy Welliver made it happen. In the last fight Murphy took control of the fight early, catching McDonald with his jab and moving to stay out of McDonald’s reach. McDonald will likely look to get off to a quicker start in this fight, moving to avoid Murphy’s jab while throwing his right jab when Murphy gets close. McDonald will also need to throw more punches, like he did in the closing rounds of their last fight, to slow Murphy’s output and perhaps back him on to the ropes where McDonald landed scoring punches in the last fight. McDonald enters the fight coming off two losses to tough opponents while Murphy has strung together five knockout wins, none going past round two, so McDonald may gain an advantage if he takes Murphy in to the later rounds.
Cruiserweights Carlos Villanueva (8 3) and Theo Dukas (0 1) will go to battle in a four round bout. Villanueva scored a third round knockout over Dukas in his last appearance, to cap a six win streak. Dukas comes in to the fight knowing the power Villanueva carries, but Dukas has been working with a new trainer in preparing to return to the ring. This rematch will likely involve some noise from a raucous crowd as both men have local ties.
Jesus Velaquez (0 1) will be looking to grab his first win against as an as yet unnamed opponent in a four round middleweight bout. Velaquez was in tough in his pro debut, and having faced rough competition could bode well in this battle. Velaquez suffered a third round TKO loss in his debut.
Super lightweights Brandon Watley (1 6) and Abel Lucas (debut) will step in to fight in a bout scheduled for four rounds. Lucas brings some amateur experience to the ring and while that will certainly help, he will be facing one of the better six loss fighters in the PNW. Watley’s record is deceiving because his losses have come at the hands of some of the better fighters in the area. Lucas will have to contend with Watley’s pressure and that means Lucas will have to move out of Watley’s reach while finding opportunities to step in and deliver hard shots.
Featherweight Isaac Russell (1 0) will fight in a four round featherweight bout against Micah Mitchell (0 2). Russell scored a thunderous first round knockout in his last appearance, and that means Mitchell will need to be aware of the power Russell carries. Mitchell's two losses have come in early round knockouts, and that could work to Russell's advantage.
Super lightweight Jonathan Magana (2 0) will bring his unbeaten record to the ring in a four round bout against Brandon Sly (0 1). Magana has dispensed of his previous opponents in the first round of each fight, and that means Sly will have to be aware that Magana is a fast starter. Sly's loss came in May when he was knocked out in the first round by knockout specialist Ho'okoa Gabriel. Both of these fighters come from the eastern part of Washington state, and that likely means each will bring a vocal contingent of supporters.
Middleweights Gerald Powell-Wood (3 1) and Christian Aguirre (9 15) will face each other in a four round bout. Powell-Wood is an all action fighter that in his previous bouts showed that he could be aggressive and out punch his opponents. He scored a third round knockout in his last fight, and his only loss came as a result of close five round unanimous decision that hinged on one round. The veteran Aguirre is looking to get back in the win column after dropping his last four, though it should be noted that his opponents in those bouts all had winning records. The two have a common opponent in Mike McMillian who scored wins over both of them. |
Rueban Manrajos ((1 1 1) and Ryan Bailey (1 8) will fight in a six round heavyweight bout that is a rematch of when the two met in April. Manrajos came out of that bout with a majority decision win. One judge scored the fight even, while the other two saw Manrajos shutting out Bailey. Bailey may be one of the most positive fighters in the PNW as no matter what the outcome of the fight, he looks to what he learned and what can be done differently in the next bout. In this bout he will have to face Manrajos again on Manrajos' home turf and start quickly, firing punches at Manrajos to slow his aggression. The two have been present on social media about the rematch, but when they step n the ring, none of that talk will matter.
Two fighters looking for their first win as a professional will step in when Angel Manrajos (0 3) and Kevin Vazquez (0 4) face each other in a four round super lightweight bout. Both Manrajos and Vazquez dropped their last fights by way of the knockout. However, in both cases they were able to take their opponents in to the later rounds. Vazquez showed some flashes of quick hands in his last bout, and he will need that against a decent defensive fighter in Manrajos. This will be Vazquez's second fight in the United States, while Manrajos will be fighting just across the border from his home town.
Light Heavyweights William Dunkle (1 1) and Shon Cross (1 2 1) are schedule to fight in a four round bout. Dunkle will be fighting out of his home town, and likely feeing fairly comfortable having won his last fight by knocking out his opponent in nearby Caldwell, Idaho. That victory came just over a year ago, while this will be Cross's third fight in '26. Cross fought to a majority draw in his last outing, one judge had him winning the fight while the other two scored it even.
Middleweights Logan Strom (1 1) and John Castro (1 1) will go to battle in a four round fight. Strom, of Meridian, Idaho, lost a close majority decision in his last fight after scoring a third round knockout victory in his pro debut. Castro also won his pro debut by scoring a knockout in the opening round before dropping a unanimous decision in his last fight. As both men carry knockout power, their defense will probably come in to play.
Light heavyweight Zack Partridge (0 1) will fight in a four round bout against an opponent yet to be named. Partridge fought to a majority draw when he faced Shon Cross in June of '26. Partridge brings experience as a bare knuckle fighter as well as rounds in the MMA realm to the ring, and that seems to mean that an opponent will need to be aware of the many tools Partridge carries. |
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November 14
Camp Withycommbe
Clackamas, Oregon |
Arena Wars November 14th Camp Withycombe, Clackamas Oregon
Super Middleweights Mike McMillian (5 1) and Devontae McDonald (8 6) will headline the November edition of the Arena Wars Fight Series. McMillian has proven himself to be a tough fighter that adapts to his opponent's style on the fly. He showed that in his last fight as he adjusted his attack to counter the hearty aggression of Gerald Powell-Wood in a five round bout that ended with McMillian winning a tightly battled unanimous decision. McDonald will be coming off his rematch with Andrew Murphy. While that can hardly be considered a tune up fight, it will certainly show that McDonald is up for any challenge put before him. To date, McDonald may have faced the tougher opposition, but McMillian's ability to counter punch and move away from heavy hitters could also be a determining factor. The fight is scheduled for six rounds.
David Cruz Tapia (1 0) and Jerrell Lane (1 1 1) will battle in a four round super lightweight bout. These two fought in May where Tapia claimed the unanimous decision win in his professional debut. Lane has been in against some tough fighters and gone the distance in each of his bouts. While his loss to Tapia was a close fight, Lane was dominate in a win over Reath Duir in February. While both fighters have shown the stamina to go four rounds, and they did so last time they met, Tapia will be looking to prove he is the better of the two while Lane will look to take the lessons from that fight to come out with the win.
Super lightweights Isrrael Alverez (debut) and Anthony Sierra (debut) are scheduled in a four round fight. Both fighters are from Oregon, and the fight gyms in the state have been working to produce quality professional fighters. Also, when two men are making their professional debut against each other, both often look to resort to the boxing skill learned in the gym, therefore, this could be a good tactical fight.
Gilberto Tapia Soto (0 1) will be returning to the Arena Wars Series after fighting in September. Jaydeen Pulido (debut) will be entering the ranks of the professional fighters in this super flyweight bout. Soto's experience in the ring could be a factor as this will be his third fight of '26, one that he hopes to enter with a win under his belt. |
